Act V

How is Macbeth a tragedy and how is Macbeth a tragic hero?

Act V scene viii King Malcolm

What are Malcolm’s first acts as the new king of Scotland? What kind of king will he most likely be? Give evidence from the play.

Act V scene viii Not Born of Woman

How does Macbeth react to Macduff’s revelation regarding his birth? How does Macbeth’s final act show that he still possesses a trace of his former nobility?

Act V scene viii

Why does Macbeth still have confidence when he first encounters Macduff?

Act V scene vii

What tactical error does Macbeth make? What happens as a result?

Act V scene vi

What is Malcolm’s position among the nobles, as suggested in this scene?

Act V scene v Tomorrow and Tomorrow

What does the “Tomorrow, and tomorrow, and tomorrow” soliloquy reveal about Macbeth? How does this scene show Macbeth’s increasing desperation?

Act V scene v Lady Macbeth's death

Why does Macbeth respond with such indifference to Lady Macbeth’s death?

Act V scene v

Is he aware of the changes that have taken place within him? Explain.

Act V scene iv

Relate this scene to the prophecies given to Macbeth through the apparitions.

Act V scene iii

Why does Macbeth no longer fear death? How does he feel about old age? How does Macbeth respond to the doctor’s report regarding Lady Macbeth’s ill health?

Act V scene ii

What does this scene reveal about Macbeth as a person and as a ruler?

Act V scene i Lady Macbeth

When Lady Macbeth says, “All the perfumes of Arabia will not sweeten this little hand,” she is
echoing a thought expressed by Macbeth in Act II, Scene 2.. What are Macbeth’s exact
words? What do these words mean? How is Lady Macbeth’s statement different from her comment about water made immediately after the murder?

Act V scene i sleepwalking

What is the mental state of Lady Macbeth during the sleepwalking scene? What does she carry? What does she do as she walks? What seems to bother her the most? What does the doctor fear will happen?

Act IV scene iii Macduff's family

How does Macduff respond to the news of his family’s massacre?

Act IV scene iii power of healing

What is the significance of the scene in which the doctor describes King Edward’s power of healing?

Act IV Macduff and Malcolm

What qualities of leadership does Malcolm reveal in his encounter with Macduff? How does Malcolm test Macduff?

Act IV scene ii

In her conversations with Ross and with her son, of what does Lady Macduff accuse her husband? How is Lady Macduff similar to Lady Macbeth? How is she different?

Act IV scene i Macduff's family

How is Macbeth changing, as indicated by the passage in which he orders the murder of Macduff s family?

Act IV scene i Macbeth and the witches

What is Macbeth's attitude toward the witches now? How does this attitude contrast with that shown by Macbeth in his first encounter with them? What does this change in attitude show about the deterioration of his character? How does Macbeth react to each apparition that the witches conjure?

Act III scene vi

What specific events and persons are discussed by Lennox and another lord in this scene?

Act III scene v atmosphere

Contrast the atmosphere in this scene with that of the preceding scene. Does Scene 5 develop the action of the play? Explain.

Act III scene iv the relationship

What does Macbeth plan for the day after the banquet? Why? Does he tell Lady Macbeth what he plans to do? What does this suggest about their relationship?

Act III scene ii the banquet

How does Macbeth behave at the banquet? What does his behavior suggest about his emotional state? How does Lady Macbeth handle the situation?

Act III scene iii the murder

How do the images of light and dark function in this scene?

Act III scene ii changes in character

Compare and contrast the feelings of Macbeth and Lady Macbeth in this scene. What changes do you perceive in Macbeth? How does Macbeth now feel about Duncan? How do these feelings contrast with his feelings before the murder of Duncan?

Act III scene i the murder plot

How does Macbeth persuade the murderers to kill Banquo and Fleance? What reason does he give for wanting to keep secret his connection with the murderers?

Act III scene i the witches and Macbeth

Does Macbeth truly believe the witches’ prophecy? Explain.

Act III scen i Banquo

How is Banquo treated by Macbeth and Lady Macbeth? How does Banquo respond? Why does Macbeth fear Banquo?

Act II Dirty Hands

Imagery, Symbol, Character. Images of light and darkness recur; however, the image of blood dominates this act, along with a contrasting image of water. Blood and water, in fact, are ancient symbols. How dirty does Macbeth indicate his hands are? What does he mean? In contrast, what does Lady Mac say about dirty lands? Why does her response seem Ironic when contrasted with Macbeth’s?

Act II Characterization

Characterization via Soliloquy and Dialogue. Early soliloquies by Mac and Lady Mac help you gauge their motivation. In Act II, Mac’s dagger soliloquy opens his mind to the audience. WHAT IMAGES ARE REVEALED? What is his state of mind now? Has he changed? Soon after the murders of Duncan, the dialogue between the Macbeths reflects the impact of these deeds on them. HOW IS THIS DIALOGUE DIFFERENT FROM EARLIER CONVERSATIONS? How do their reactions differ? Who seems to recover more quickly? What does all this suggest about soul of each?

Act II Elizabethan Audience

Comic Relief. Comic relief is a humorous scene, incident, or speech that is included in serious drama to provide time out from emotional intensity. It allows audience time to prepare for the next intense event. It often contrasts with the “heaviness” of the main plot. Discuss the porter/Macduff and Lennox scene. Include what it shows about Elizabethan audiences.

Act II Figurative Language

Figurative Language. Macbeth has rich figures of speech - simile, metaphor, and personification. Identify the figures used and write about their effectiveness in heightening the dramatic impact of the scenes.

Act II scene iv Nature

As described in Scenes 3 and 4, how does nature reflect human event? What idea is emphasized by these references to nature?

Act II Scene iv the suspects

Why are Malcolm and Donalbain suspects in the murder of their father?
What motive is attributed to them?
Why is this accusation ironic?

Act II scene iii Malcolm and Donalbain

Why do Malcolm and Donalbain secretly leave Macbeth’s castle? Where do they go?

Act II scene iii Lady Macbeth

Why does Lady Macbeth faint? Explain your answer.

Act II scene iii killing the others

Who are Macbeth’s second and third victims? What reason does he give for killing them?

Act II scene iii the Porter

What dual purpose does the porter serve at the beginning of this scene?

Act II scene ii reactions to the murder

Why must Lady Macbeth return the bloody daggers to Duncan’s chambers? How do Macbeth and Lady Macbeth differ in their reactions to the murder? What does Macbeth wish at the end of this scene?

Macbeth Act II scene ii voices

Macbeth imagines that a voice speaks to him. What message is spoken?
How does Macbeth interpret this message?

Act II scene ii the murder

Describe the murder of Duncan as recounted by Macbeth. Why is he unable to say “Amen”?

Act II scene ii hallucinations

Consider the implications of the dagger hallucination? What does Macbeth mean by the fatal vision of the dagger? Why is Macbeth's allusion to Tarquin particularly appropriate?

Act Scene i Reaction to Prophecy

Why is Banquo’s reaction to the witches’ prophecies so different from that of Macbeth?

Act I Ambition

Both Macbeth and Lady Macbeth are ambitious. However, even at this early point in the play, there is a ua1itative difference in their characters. Describe that difference.

Act I the plan

Macbeth tells his wife flatly, “We will proceed no further in this business.” However, Lady Macbeth changes his mind completely. Describe the arguments by which she persuades him to carry out her plan. What are Lady Macbeth’s exact plans for murdering Duncan and for hiding her and her husband’s guilt?

Act I the language

What is the “double trust” under which Duncan is in the castle?What “spur” motivates Macbeth?

Act I the assassination

According to Macbeth’s speech at the beginning of this scene, how does be feel about Duncan’s assassination?

Act I Lady Macbeth

Row does Lady Macbeth react to her husband’s letter? Describe Lady Macbeth, referring to specific actions that illustrate the qualities you identify. Describe the striking contrast between appearance and reality in this scene.

Act I King Duncan and Macbeth

What apparently is the relationship between King Duncan and Macbeth, as suggested by their conversation?How does Macbeth’s final passage of dialogue shed new light on this relationship?

Act I the prophecy

How do Macbeth and Banquo react to the witches prophecies? What warning does Banquo give Macbeth?Does Macbeth heed his warning? Why, or why not’?

Act I the three weird sisters

What impression of the witches do you form from this scene? How might they represent past, present and future?

Act I scene i impressions

What impression do you have of Macbeth from this scene?

Act I Scene i

What atmosphere is established in this scene?